British woman, Deborah Hooper collapsed and died in front of her partner after finishing a swim
A British woman who collapsed and died on a beach in Sicily moments after she had finished a swim has been named as Deborah Hooper.
Deborah, 64, was on holiday with retired accountant Andrew Ashman, 72, when she is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest in rough seas.
The pair were walking along a beach at Punta Secca near Ragusa on the Italian island when tragedy struck last Friday.
Police told MailOnline that Deborah had gone for a swim despite the water being ‘rough and cold’ and on an area where there is no life guard on duty during the off season.
She managed to get out of the water and reach the shore, but she collapsed in front of her husband.
Medics were called to the scene, but they were unable to revive the woman, who was pronounced dead.
The beach is famous for being the seaside home of popular Italian TV detective Inspector Montalbano which is screened on BBC TV and features in the opening credits.